EDINBURGH 2023: Pick of the Programme - Pay What You Can

Free Fringe/pay-what-you-can shows typically mean that the acts don't have to pay a huge venue registration fee which makes it a lot more achievable to fund an Edinburgh run. The idea behind these shows is that at the end you put a donation in the bucket as the festival is still hugely expensive to these performers. Card readers are often available but venue WiFi can be unreliable so bring cash just incase! Here are some of our top picks of shows where you can donate at the end or pay in advance on a sliding scale.

A Show For Gareth Richards

This year the biggest stars of the UK stand-up circuit, including Iain Stirling, John Robins, Mark Simmons, Jo Caulfield and Nick Helm, return to their roots in a mixed-bill show, to celebrate the life of comedian Gareth Richards. A unique opportunity to see the funniest stand-ups in the country do what they do best. Raise your glasses, as they Raise the Roof, to a hugely loved, and horribly missed, friend and colleague, Mr Gareth Richards. A different bill every day with 100% of audience donations going to Gareth's young family.

Tom Mayhew: This Time Next Year, We'll Be Millionaires!

Working-class comedian Tom Mayhew returns to the Fringe with a show about dreams and endless hope. But it's mainly jokes about how weird and annoying capitalism is.

Luisa Omielan: God is a Woman The Musical

I gave you Politics for Bitches and What Would Beyonce Do?! Now brace yourself for my female Book of Mormon. I can't sing or play music. But I did grow up on Sister Act 1 and 2. This is an epic one-woman show/experiment. It's a work in progress, but I can tell you now, it's gonna be your favourite show of the festival. Arrive early. Free.

Cerys Bradley: Not Overthinking Things 2019

Did Cerys cause their parents' divorce? Did they just make that interaction really awkward? Is a new year's resolution ever going to be enough to fix their personality? In this surreal and silly interactive stand-up show/birthday party, you get to decide. Cerys is a non-binary comedian and Autistic Excellence Award winner at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022. 

Sid Singh: Table for One

Award-winning lefty comedian and human rights advocate Sid Singh takes you on a hilarious journey as he figures out how to fight the good fight… as far from home as possible! The last year has had people asking Sid to choose between his human rights work and comedy. Come watch as he tells them to f*ck off while dealing with newly woke parents, a broken hometown, and almost getting deported from India... while still in Germany! 

Bipolar Badass

Bipolar Badass is a one-woman show by Mari (like calamari) Crawford about the humour behind struggling with the illness. In between car crashes and apathetic psychiatrists lies an absurd perspective of “this thing called life.” From an initial diagnosis to family history to manic escapades to somewhat figuring it all out, we see the layers and ridiculousness of an illness that is misunderstood.

Nathan Cassidy: Fifty

Multi award-winning comedian Cassidy wanted to perform the show of his life for his grandma's 100th birthday, but must make his stand-up "Instagrammable." So instead here are 50 jokes with no connections and no depth, heart or soul.

Shelf: Teenage Men

In their last show, Hair, Shelf joked about being mistaken for teenage boys. Now, it’s time to grow up. It's time to stop being teenage boys and start being teenage men. This new show from the 'easy to fall in love with' (Scotsman) double-act features anecdotes, songs, jokes about performing for kids, the Instagram algorithm, confronting your toxicity, and more.

James Barr: Chains and WIPs Excite Me

After a five-star, sell-out run at Edinburgh 2022, James is popping to the Free Fringe for an out-of-control hour of jokes. Reviewers not welcome. An hour of fearless storytelling and unapologetic punchlines. Like his mental health and financial situation, this show is a work in progress.

Lorraine Hoodless: Fuzzy Duck

Party girl Lorraine is the first to order shots, start drinking games and make cocktails in the kitchen. Life has been a whirlwind of lost weekends and hangovers, has her work-hard play-hard mantra finally caught up with her? What happens when the reputation becomes a chore? A humorous look at her relationship with booze. Laugh along to her light-hearted love letter to hooch and hangovers. Whose round is it anyway? Mine's a vodka, soda and a squeeze of lime. Shots anyone? Wildcard Amused Moose New Comedian 2020, and Semi-finalist Comedian of the year 2021.

The full programme is available at www.edfringe.com

Photo credit: Andy Hollingworth

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